As we approach the five-year mark of that fateful day of Aug. 3, 2019, many El Pasoans find themselves reflecting on the profound impact it had and continues to have on our community. This milestone is not just a marker of time but a testament to the enduring tenacity and unity that have defined our city’s journey from sorrow to healing.
On that day five years ago, a tragic act of violence occurred when an individual from outside our community traveled a great distance with the intent to harm people based on their nationality and ethnicity. This devastating event resulted in the loss of 23 of our neighbors, left countless others injured, and deeply affected the heart of El Paso..
Alberto Ruiz, senior director of community resilience at United Way of El Paso County, remembers the immediate shock that stilled the community in the aftermath, and the grief that echoed throughout the city and into every home.
Day of Remembrance volunteers gathered on the morning of August 3rd, 2023 to fill luminarias in preparation for the fourth annual Day of Remembrance. (Photo by United Way staff member, Daniel Mendez)
However, what he remembers most is how an extraordinary resilience emerged from the depths of this tragedy – a collective determination to support one another, rebuild and heal as a community. Without hesitation, neighbors quickly became pillars of strength, and strangers became allies in their shared grief. This spirit of solidarity has been the foundation of El Paso’s recovery and growth over the past five years.
“After the initial weeks had passed, a lot of people believed that everything would go back to what it once was and that we had come to the end, or rather reached the extent of our community’s healing,” Ruiz said. “In reality, it was just the beginning of a long road to collective and individual recovery, and five years later, our city is still healing.”
At the heart of this journey stands Ruiz and his team of Resiliency Navigators, who through the El Paso United Family Resiliency Center have dedicated themselves to providing a beacon of hope and healing for those directly and indirectly impacted by Aug. 3.
El Paso community members gathered around the Healing Garden to commemorate the fourth annual Day of Remembrance in 2023. (Photo by United Way staff member, Daniel Mendez)
As a program of the United Way of El Paso County, the Family Resiliency Center has been instrumental in guiding our community through the complex process of recovery. Its resource navigation services have connected countless individuals and families with vital support, from traditional counseling and therapy to non-traditional healing practices such as art therapy and community activities. These resources have been crucial in addressing the emotional and psychological needs of our city, fostering long-term resilience and growth.
As the city honors the memories of those we lost, we also celebrate the remarkable progress we have made together. The upcoming fifth Day of Remembrance is an opportunity for us to reflect on our shared journey and to recommit ourselves to the values of unity and compassion that sustained us during one of the darkest days in El Paso’s history.
This year, the FRC, together with El Paso County and the city of El Paso, has launched a series of Day of Remembrance efforts, including volunteering opportunities and public sound baths, that will build up to the annual luminarias lighting and a special mural unveiling ceremony on Aug. 3, 2024, at Ascarate Park’s Healing Garden.
El Paso United Family Resiliency Center staff members and FC Locomotives joined forces to volunteer at the Kelly Center for Hunger Relief, kicking off 2024’s Month of Unity and Day of Remembrance efforts. (Photo by United Way staff member, Daniel Mendez)
“The five-year mark represents a new phase in our community’s recovery,” Ruiz said. “We are now a few years into this collective healing journey, and the years have given us the space to be able to reflect on our city’s progress without having to relive the trauma. This milestone also allows us to help the younger generations understand the impact of this unprecedented tragedy through a more resilient lens. El Paso has come a very long way since 2019, and we’re excited to welcome the community to be a part of El Paso’s ongoing healing journey.”
As we gather throughout the month of July to spread kindness through acts of community service, and again on Aug. 3 for the luminarias lighting and mural unveiling, let us celebrate our present strength, and look forward to a future marked by healing with hope for our beautiful Sun City.
We call on all El Pasoans to join us in these Day of Remembrance efforts. Let us stand together, not only to remember those we lost but to reaffirm our commitment to supporting each other. By participating, you make a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected, demonstrating that resilience, unity and hope can arise from even the hardest of tragedies.
El Paso United Family Resiliency Center staff members and FC Locomotives joined forces to volunteer at the Kelly Center for Hunger Relief, kicking off 2024’s Month of Unity and Day of Remembrance efforts. (Photo by United Way staff member, Daniel Mendez)
Together, we can continue to build a community that not only remembers but also grows stronger with each passing day, forever united against hate.
For more information about this year’s Day of Remembrance, or to learn more about the El Paso Family Resiliency Center and how healing after Aug. 3 is possible, visit elpasounitedfrc.org.
If you or a loved one was impacted by the Aug. 3rd tragedy, the El Paso United Family Resiliency Center offers support and resources. Please call (915) 273-3484 to begin your healing journey.
The post Reflecting on five years of resilience: El Paso’s healing journey appeared first on El Paso Matters.
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